News

NDC, Omo-Agege condemn declaration of Udu lawmaker’s seat vacant in Delta

Published

30 seconds ago

July 1, 2026

Preport

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Delta State, and Deputy President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Age, have described the action of the Delta State House of Assembly, DSHA, to declare the seat of the member representing Udu State Constituency, Egbetamah Ovie Collins, vacant following his defection to the party as unconstitutional, unjust, politically motivated, and a threat to democratic principles.

In a statement signed by the Delta State Publicity Secretary of the NDC, McCollins Nwose, and made available to journalists, the party accused the Assembly of applying double standards, noting that politicians who previously defected from the PDP to the APC retained their seats without similar sanctions.

The NDC condemned the decision, saying it amounted to an abuse of legislative powers and an attempt to silence opposition voices in the state.

According to the party, the mandate held by Egbetamah belongs to the people of Udu State Constituency and not to any political party, maintaining that removing him from office over his defection undermines the will of the electorate and violates constitutional provisions.

The NDC called on civil society organisations, democracy advocates, and the people of Delta State to reject what it described as a dangerous precedent and to defend constitutional democracy.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the democratic rights and mandate of the people.

Similarly, Senator Ovie Omo-Age, condemned the Assembly over the removal of Egbetamah as representative of Udu State Constituency, describing the action as “hasty, arbitrary, oppressive, and illegal.”

In a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, the Obarisi of Urhoboland said the House’s decision was not constitutional but a political move.

“I condemn in the strongest terms the reported decision of the Delta State House of Assembly to remove Hon. Collins Egbetamah, the duly elected representative of Udu State Constituency, without a fair hearing.

“This was not constitutional housekeeping. It was a hasty, arbitrary, oppressive, and illegal act intended to achieve a political objective that disparages and injures the people of Udu, the wider Urhobo nation, and Delta state.”

Addressing the legal basis cited by the House, Omo-Agege argued that Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution does not apply without exception.

“The House relies on Section 109(1)(g) as if it admits of no exception. The Constitution provides an exception where a defection arises from a division in the original party.

“That question of fact was never examined in any legislative hearing. There was also no judicial determination. The matter was rushed because a process grounded in the constitutional right to a fair hearing would not have produced the House’s predetermined outcome,” he stated.

Senator Omo-Agege said a legislative mandate cannot be ended without hearing the lawmaker, warning that bypassing due process amounts to tyranny. “A mandate freely given by the people of Udu cannot be extinguished in a single sitting by voice vote. That is disturbing, disrespectful, and unacceptable. It was not the intendment of the framers of our constitution. We are not a Banana Republic,” Omo-Agege warned.

News

Eniola Bolaji Gets Promise Of Three Month Overseas Training Tour From Badminton Federation Boss Francis Orbih

Published

35 minutes ago

July 1, 2026

Preport

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Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) is set to arrange a three-month training programme abroad for the country’s leading physically challenged player, Eniola Bolaji, who recently placed second at a major international championship.

Sports247 reports that this was disclosed by BFN president, Francis Orbih, while celebrating Bolaji’s silver-winning feat at the 2026 British & Irish Para Badminton International, which took place last Sunday in Dublin, Ireland.

The Paralympics bronze medallist and World Para-Badminton Championship silver winner emerged runner-up after losing 2-0 (21-18, 23-21) to Japan’s Shino Kawai in the women’s SL3 singles final at Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.

Despite the defeat, Orbih praised Bolaji for another ‘fantastic’ performance on the international stage and pointed out that she has what it takes to overcome Kawai in future outings, as the BFN is working on plans to help her keep on improving.

“It was a fantastic performance and I am very happy with what Eniola achieved. I am motivated to intensify efforts to ensure she trains outside the country because it is only a matter of time before she starts beating the Japanese player, Shino Kawai.

“I have congratulated her for setting the tone once again. We are already looking forward to arranging a three-month training tour abroad to further improve her game,” the badminton top administrator revealed excitedly.

Health

Interpretation of Lagos HIV data misleading, figures reflect routine testing- Official

Published

1 hour ago

July 1, 2026

Preport

The immediate past chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, Babajide Saheed, has challenged the interpretation of figures showing that Lagos recorded 10,430 new HIV cases in 2025, arguing that the data reflects routine HIV testing rather than newly diagnosed infections.

Mr Saheed made the clarification on Channels Television during The Morning Brief show on Wednesday while reacting to figures from the ”State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025,” which have sparked widespread discussion on social media.

The report indicates that Lagos recorded 10,430 new HIV cases in 2025, the highest among Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and higher than the combined figures for Kaduna, Adamawa and the FCT.

During the programme, the television anchors questioned why Lagos continued to record such high numbers despite years of HIV awareness campaigns and prevention efforts.

Interpretation

Responding, Mr Saheed said the figures should not be interpreted as newly diagnosed HIV infections.

According to him, the numbers largely represent HIV positivity from routine testing carried out among people already receiving treatment, alongside newly diagnosed cases.

“It is routine testing,” he said repeatedly during the interview, urging viewers to refer to the clarification issued by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

He explained that people living with HIV routinely undergo tests while receiving antiretroviral treatment, and those results are captured in health records.

However, despite disagreeing with the interpretation of the figures, Mr Saheed acknowledged that Lagos continues to bear a significant HIV burden.

He described the situation as “a red flag”, noting that Lagos, alongside states such as Rivers and Benue, has consistently recorded high HIV numbers over the years.

Factors driving the trend

Mr Saheed attributed the trend to a combination of reduced international donor funding, economic hardship and challenges accessing HIV treatment.

He said funding cuts by international partners, coupled with Nigeria’s economic situation, may have contributed to disruptions in HIV services.

“If people cannot afford to feed themselves, how can they afford transportation to the hospital?” he said.

He urged the federal government to increase domestic funding for HIV programmes, invest in local production of antiretroviral medicines, strengthen public awareness campaigns and decentralise HIV treatment to primary healthcare centres and private facilities.

Mr Saheed also called for intensified public education on HIV prevention, including condom use, abstinence and early testing, particularly among young people and women, whom he identified among the groups most affected.

PREMIUM TIMES review

A review of the 2025 Final State of the Health of the Nation Report, produced by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, confirmed that Lagos recorded 10,430 new HIV cases in 2025, down from 14,622 in 2024.

The report also shows that Lagos recorded the highest number of reported new HIV cases among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Further review of the data shows that, aside from Lagos, the highest figures were recorded in Rivers (6,287), Kano (6,010), Akwa Ibom (5,413), Taraba (4,854), Benue (4,804), Anambra (4,468) and Kaduna (3,699).

Other states

The report revealed that other states recorded comparatively lower figures, including Adamawa (2,989), Bauchi (2,736), FCT (2,764), Sokoto (2,592), Abia (2,546), Cross River (2,545), Imo (2,539), Delta (2,469), Nasarawa (2,410), Borno (2,311), Zamfara (2,134), Ogun (2,107), Plateau (2,084), Niger (2,020), Ebonyi (2,015), Oyo (1,910), Jigawa (1,776), Kogi (1,752), Ondo (1,622), Edo (1,619), Kebbi (1,572), Katsina (1,541), Yobe (1,483), Enugu (1,479), Kwara (1,371), Osun (1,093), Gombe (1,083), Bayelsa (982) and Ekiti (462).

READ ALSO: US HIV funding withdrawal from South Africa could cost lives, UNAIDS warns

The report also shows that Ekiti recorded the lowest figure nationwide, followed by Bayelsa, Gombe, Osun, Kwara, Enugu and Yobe, while Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Taraba and Benue recorded the highest numbers.

NACA’s earlier clarification

In April, NACA cautioned against interpreting similar state-by-state HIV figures as representing the actual burden of the disease, saying they had been taken out of context.

The agency explained that the figures reflected HIV positivity from routine testing conducted in health facilities and should not be used to estimate HIV prevalence or incidence or rank states by disease burden. It said such data are influenced by factors including population size, testing coverage and reporting practices.

NACA also warned that HIV data should only be generated, interpreted, and disseminated by authorised government health institutions, in line with established protocols, to avoid misleading the public.